Fans no longer interested in hockey matches

By ERNEST NDUNDA

Fans no longer stream to hockey venues to watch Kenya Hockey Union Premier League matches as was the case between mid 1980s and early 1990s.

Standards of hockey in Coast region have deteriorated in the recent years. To confirm this, none of the schools in the province has won a trophy since the introduction of the Secondary Schools Sports Association in early 70s.

Papu Sohal, founder member of Mombasa Youngsters, one of the successful hockey clubs in Coast Province, says lack of commitment by players has failed hockey in the region.

Lack the basics

"Some of these players lack the basics. In hockey, one needs to be skilful, but more importantly to be capable of stopping and hitting the ball," said Sohal at Coast Gymkhana Sports Club, accompanied by Youngsters co-founder, Sanjal Patel.

Sohal and Patel have switched their interest to cricket despite keeping themselves fit by playing friendly matches with their veteran side.

"During our time, Coast Province was a force to reckon with. There was a time when Youngsters set a record of seven years undefeated in the Coast League," said Sohal.

"We need to invest in youth right from the national to the provincial levels and we shall be on the path to recovery," says Sohal.

"Kenya used to be ranked among the top in Africa, but the current ranking puts Kenya nowhere near the top ten in the world," adds Sohal.

He says there are limited hockey training grounds as most of them are private members’ clubs.

"Most sports clubs have limited space for non-members, thus making it difficult for hockey teams to form formidable sides," he said.

"Lack of resources is another major problem affecting development of hockey in the region and the Government needs to ensure there are enough recreational facilities for youth," says Patel.

"Kenyans are gifted. They are physically fit and we can go places if the Government could work closely with all sports associations," says Patel.

Teamwork

He says athletics does well because it is an individual game unlike hockey where it must be teamwork.

"In hockey one must be prepared to give blood and few of the current crop of players are not ready to sacrifice while on the pitch for the sake of hockey," adds Patel.

Coast used to be a household name in hockey before the collapse of Youngsters and Baobab clubs. Currently, Coast has only Mvita Select in the national Premier League with Mombasa Sports Club and Mombasa Institute Sports Club featuring in the lower division.

Mombasa Sports Club is the only women’s team from Coast region featuring in the women’s national league.

 

 

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